The decision comes following Rev. Schaefer’s appeal. According to the decision, Rev. Schaeffer will be back paid to when he was suspended in December. The church appeals panel also upheld the 30-day suspension that Schaefer served.

Rev. Frank Schaefer was served 30-day suspension for officiating the 2007 wedding of his gay son in Massachusetts, where same-sex unions are legal. He was then told to resign from the clergy if he could not follow the denomination's Book of Discipline.

Following the defrocking, Rev. Schaefer said that he would not surrender his clergy credentials and intended to continue to be an outspoken advocate for LGBT people.